Bethel University - Spire Yearbook (St Paul, MN)

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THE ACOR N 31 spent until in October 1908 he boarded the train for Minnesota and Bethel Academy. Mr. Burk man has served as president tor the “A. B.' and S. P. B.” societies, and is at present the most noted in our famous orchestra, as well as stardebater. • After teaching for a year or two Mr. Burkman intends to enter some medical school. • Jonas August Ahlquist, whose remarkable mastery of the English language has made him famous, began squinting, according to an old family Bible, at Fanoo gftrd, Uppsala lan, Sweden, on December 19, 1SS7, at 1:33 Vi a. m. When seven years old lie moved with his parents to Stockholm where he attended St. John’s public school, graduating from It in 1902. Finding that “gamla Svea” was not adequate to minister to the yearning, restless Jonas, his parents decided to emigrate to the “promised land” in the West. His trip across the Atlantic as far as is known, was more calm than the man of old, for at any rate lie reached St. Paul in safeiv and has continued to make it his home. For six months he was employed in a piano factory, but finding that a close friend would give him all necessary instruction during after supper hours, lie decided to learn the art of photography in which profession he became very able, and acted as foreman for a commercial Photo Co. for some time. In 1907 he entered Bethel Academy, where his earnest devotion to duty has become proverbial. Aside from his religious work he has held several important offices while here, among which may be mentioned Business Mgr. of the Acorn, President of the Alpha Beta Literary Society, and last year as Editor of the Acorn lie manifested great talent. This year his timely and useful suggestions to the staff have been very helpful. Xext year he expects to enter a medical college preparatory for work on the foreign mis- sion field. His favorite flower is the Mignonette, and his well-chosen motto: To thine own self be true.” Joel Anderson, poet, preacher and critic, was born in Finland of Swedish parentage near Jacobstad, ihe birthplace of Runeberg. Being that he mingled with the Finnish people almost daily, he soon came to speak their language as fluently as his own mother’s tongue. His father is a Bonde” and was therefore financially able to give Joel a good education, in l$9(i he entered ’‘liogre folksko.’an i Nederpurmo” (a Swedish institution) and graduated from it after two years with very high standing—tho the course was four years and hard at that for the average student. In 1900 he was confirmed according tc the rules of the Lutheran state church of Finland. In 1905 he emigrated to America in order to escape military duty to the Hussion emperor, and settled down at Republic, Mich., where he engaged in mining. In the mine where he worked it was his sad experience to see a close friend killed in an explosion. At Republic he joined the “Templars of Temperance” and was honored with the offices of Fin. Sec. and Vice-president. The duties connected with these offices he dispatched with a marvelous tact, and almost unprecedented ability. Feeling, however, that he could be of more use to the Land of the Fiee” by furthering his education, he decided to go to Bethel Academy. Here he has shown his almost unlimited store of talents. As a poet, he has no equal, and this is not strange when we recall that it was his privilege to be born in the same land, see the same scenes, view the same natural displays, sit in the same lap of nature, and sip from the same fountain of imagination as Runeberg. April 1th 1909 is a date which lie cherishes above all other, for it was then he became a member of the Elira Swedish

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TI1E ACOR N ;; o Miss Lundholm holds the position of pianist in the First Swedish Baptist Sunday School, and was also last year unanimously nominated editor-in-chief of the Acorn, but being somewhat reticent she decidedly refused and was therefore not elected. Miss Lund holm's favorite I lower is the Lily-of-the-valley.” Miss Edna Skooglun, for some time Bethel Academy’s champion tennisplayer, began playing December 15, 1891. It happened in the beautiful .Minnesota Capital, St. Paul, a place so attractive that Miss Skooglun has chosen to remain there ever since, and influenced by this long sojourn she lias made “Never give up” a favorite motto. Edna has attended the Phalen Park School where she won a diploma after a few years struggles, and started at Bethel some four years ago. Miss Skooglun would really not need as her favorite flower the “Forget-me-not,” because the pleasant times she lias occasioned, especially the school-party at Bald Eagle Lake last summer, will make her memory perpetual, but if the flower was picked because it resembles its owner it was well chosen. We do not as yet know Miss Skooglun's future occupation but feel persuaded that she will make it sweet. Jonas Larson, the salutatorian of the class, first looked out over the world in Angermanland, Sweden. In early youth he became a passionate lover of swimming, fishing, and mountain-climbing. During these first years he learned not only that laughing is an expression of mirth peculiar to the human species, but also acquired the habit of indicating that laughter might also be the sound heard in laughing,—of which we all can bear wittness. The only shadow over his early life was the necessitated attendence of a primary school. Sadly few dates appear in Mr. Larson’s history—the only now accessible being the year 1904, in which Mr. Larson, very likely prompted by love of liberty, arrived to the United States. After a period of jack-of-all-trades Jonas settled down on a farm at Mora, Minn. Scon, however, thirst for knowledge took possession of the young agriculturist and lie came to Bethel. During his Junior year Mr. Larson became noted as a fervent disciple of Plato, and he has a'so served as president of literary societies, besides being a good debater and business manager of the Acorn. The plan for the future is to complete a medical course at some university, and later, to go to some foreign country as a missionary of the Gospel. 3 ♦ Joel Burkman, Idaho Joe,” the great football player, was born in Sala, Sweden, on September 21, 1SS9. The precociousness of the child was and is so great that although it has attended schools approximately only ten months previous to entering Bethel Academy, it ranks among the best students. The proofs of this wonderful development are not wanting. Esse quarn videri” is Joel's chosen motto, the white rose the flower, green the favorite color, and “taking exams” the favorite of accupations, all of which goes to show very advanced intellectuality. In 1S92 Mr. Burkinan emigrated under the guidance and protection of his parents and immediately proceeded to Dayton, Ohio. When Joe'’ was six years of age his parents again hit the trail” and landed in Southwestern Idaho. There among roughriders and under the hardships presented by a wild frontier life in a place nearly destitute of schools and cut through by the Snake river, offering many hair-raising adventures, his life was

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THE A C 0 RN Baptist Church of Minneapolis. Last summer the Swedish-Finnisli Church of Felch, Michigan, had the much-coveted honor to secure his services. His favorite flower we think is the Cuckoo flower; his motto which is his original is Bo what you know and know what you do,” and his greatest ambition is to become a “metrical artist. He is not ready to reveal his future plans definitely, hut rumors are afloat that he will take the medical course at some university. « Nathaneal O. Edwall, the pet of the class, was born in Fellings bo, Wastman-land, Sweden, the 29th of July 18S7. He received a good early training. In 1905 he left his native land for the land of opportunities,” America. The first year here was spent in Washington, D. C., and the second at Berwyn, 111. In 1907 lie took up work at Bethel Academy, and has shown himself a very efficient student. During the summer vacations he has been engaged in religious work. Mr. Edwall possesses a keen imagination and a great liking for mysteries. Recently he came near being killed while riding in a street-car to Minneapolis. The car was .just going under a railroad bridge when the “Western Flyer'’ came along and ran over him. His favorite flower is the “Bachelor-button,” his favorite motto: ‘‘Take the chance while you have it,” and his cherished color is “blue.” He has a well-selected vocabulary and enjoys to state hish-sounding phrases. At present he is preparing a great dictionary, which will when finished put Webster's in the shade. His future intention is to take the theological course at Morgan Park, beginning there next fall. Swedish Department VaR. Nu vintern flytt Och var pa nytt Har kommit till var jord. Och f gels ng Hors dagen ling Uti var hdga nord. Se bara bur Var mor Natur Den grona mattan hre’r! Och sippor sma Som himmeln hid, Uppvakna fler och fler. SP6KHUSET. Vid kusten i ett av de sydsvenska land- trampade g ngstigarna och blickar pH do skapen ligger en gammal by vars grfla bus har och dar kringstrodda gSrdarna, kanner Inglva en kfinsla av mystisk odslighet. Nar man, att var och en av dessa har sin egen man van drat p de av generationer till- mystlska historia sedan flvdda tider att Och tradels knopp Orn nyfalt liopp Paminner dag frSn dag. Snart son-mar ar, Det tydligt lar Naturens kanda lag. O, vakna opp Ur sluten knopp, Du ock, min sjal, och lar Av figlar sniH • Och sippor bbt Att prisa Fadern kiir! —Victor Person, '12.